Prepayment watt-hour meter



W. M. BRADSHAW AND W. G. MYLIUS.

.PREPAYMENT WATT HOUR METER. APPLICATION r1120 111111.11} I916.

1,821,506. Patented Nov. 11,1919.

1 I 3 SHEETS-SHEEI 1.

WITNESSES yalterGMgIius.

ATTORNEY INVENTOR William M.Bradshaw, 5

w. M. BRADSHAW AND w. e. MYLIUS.

PREPAYMENT WATT HOUR METER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17. I9l6.

1 321,506. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEEI 2.

INVENTOR William Brads/1am \glglfera. Mylius.

AT'roRNEY M. BRADSHAW AND W. G. MYLlUS.

PREPAYMENT WATT HOUR METER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. H, I916.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TORNEY WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M; BRADSHAW AND WALTER G. MYLIUS, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC ,AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PREPAYMENT WATT-HOUR METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed March 17, 1916. Serial No. 811,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM M. BRAD- SHAW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and WALTER G. MYLIUS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Prepayment Watt-Hour Meters, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to watthour meters of the prepayment type and particularly to detachable unitary coin-controlled devices for such meters.

One object of our invention is to provide a detachable coin-controlled device that may be quickly and easily substituted for the integrating mechanism of an ordinary watthour meter to constitute a prepayment meter.

Another object of our invention is to provide a coin-controlled device of the above indicated character that shall have means for holding the coin in a gripped position until it has been turned a predetermined distance.

Another object of our invention is to provide a coin-controlled device of the above indicated character that shall have means for easily disconnecting its controlling device from its main spring to facilitate testing of the device.

Another object of our invention is to provide a coin-controlled device of the above indicated character that shall have means for interrupting the circuit of the meter windings when its main spring has been unwound a predetermined amount, irrespective of its relative positions.

Another object of our invention is to provide a coin-controlled device of the above indicated character that shall have means for closing its coin slot when its main spring has been wound a predetermined amount, irrespective of its relative positions.

Another object of our invention is to provide a cover plate for a meter of the above indicated character that shall have means for so supporting a coin receptacle that the extraction of coins is precluded when the cover is removed.

Our copending U. S. application, Serial No. 873,924, filed November'25, 1914, discloses a prepayment meter having a main spring that is adapted to be wound from oneend and to be unwound from its other end tocontrol the operation of a switch. In our present invention, we embody some of the noval features of the above indicated application in a unitary coin-controlled device that is adapted to be detachably connected to an ordinary wattmeter to constitute a prepayment meter. The unitary coin-controlled device is so constructed that its switch is adapted to be tripped when its main spring has been unwound a predetermined amount, irrespective of its relative positions when such unwinding obtains. The coin slot of the coin-controlled device is adapted to be closed when the main spring has been wound a predetermined amount, and means is provided for holding a coin in its operative position until it has been turned to a predetermined position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a prepayment watthour meter embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the meter shown in Fig. 1, with the cover removed; Fig. 3 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the meter shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a detachable coin-controlled device embodying our invention; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view, with parts broken away, of the coin-controlled device shown in Fig. l, Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view, with parts broken away, of the coin-controlled device shown in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is a rear elevational View of the coin-controlled device shown in Figs. l, 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is a detail view of a lever having two spaced-apart arms that are employed in the coin-controlled device, and Figs. 9 and 10, and 11 and 12 are front and side elevational views, respectively, of the two pl ates of the coin bodying our invention.

A prepaymentwatthour meter 1 comprises an ordinary watthour -meter 2, a

unitary detachable coin-controlled device 4.

and a .cover 5.

V 1 j T-he-watthour imeter';2 comprises a casing 3 in which a ma netizable core member 6,'magnetizing winc ings (not shown), a rotatable armature 7 that is mounted on a shaft 8 and a plurality of damping mag- 3 nets S are mounted. The casing3 isprovided; with a magnet support lQthatis adapted to support the coinrcontrolled device 4.v The watthour meter 2 is of the ordinary induction type and may be con structed"substantially in accordance w th what is set forth in U. S. Patent No. 853,226,

v issued May 14, 1907 to F. Conrad and Wil-' 20" inghouse Electric and Manufacturing" Comliamf Bradshaw, and assigned to the West- The cover'5 is constructedjof stamped and pressed material and is provided with'two windows or openings 11' and 12. A sub-. stantially semi-cylindrical member 13, that is also. constructed of stamped and pressed 7 material, is attached to the outersurface of the jcover"5 in. any suitable manner, such, for example, as spot welding orriveting; Thejmemb'er 13fi's open atits lower end 14' "to receive a coin receptacle 15. The member 13-1 is enlarged, near its upper end 16, ,to, re-

ceive 'aportion of the coin-controlled mecha- V nism and is provided with a com slot 17." V

Defl ecjting plates 18 andl9 are so disposed within the member 13' that, when the cover 5 is removed from the base 3 by removing f'fastening screws 20,;the coins in the .recepsupporting frame 10 by screws 23 and com-,

- plate 22 and comprises a casing 28 that is provided with. openings. 29 and 3'0.

tacle 15 cannot be extracted. A retaining bar=21 is inserted in openings in the walls ofthe member 13 to retain the coin receptacle 15 in position and may be provided w1th any suitable form of lock (not shown).

The :coinrcontrolled device 4 is'mounted on a plate 22 that is secured to the magnetprises, in generalja switch 24, an escape a .coinjdevice 27 I The coin dev ce 27 s, mounted mentmechanism 25, amain spring 26 'and@ on the knurled head knob: 31is mounted on a relatively short shaft 32 that extends through a predetermined distance.

one end of the casingf2 8f and. is provided with a spring 33ffor "returning it to its normal position'lafter it has been turned A plate 34 is mounted on one end of the shaft32 andiis provided with a flanged periphery 35 and gripping device emjections 36. 'turned, and a sufficiently large coin 37 is with two eccentric coin-positioning flanges or projections 36. The flanged edge or periphery 35 is cut away over a portion of its length to permit anunobstructed opening fromthe coin slot 17 through the opening 29. in order that a coin 37 may pass therethrough and rest upon the flanges or projections 36. A second plate 38 is mounted on one end of the main shaft 39 of the coin-controlled device 4. The plate 38 is provided with two curved flanges 40 and 41 that are of such size and are so positioned as to extend between the flanged edge or periphery 35 of the plate 34 and the pro- Thus, when the plate 34 is resting on the projections 36, the flanges 40 and 41 will so grip the plates 34 and 38 together that the shaft 39 may be turned. Two resilient members 42 and 43 are mounted. on the plate 38 and-have inclined por- "tions that are adapted to coiiperate with a stationary pin 44 to hold them in such position when the plates 34 and 38 are turned, that, when the knurled head knob 31 has been turned exactly 180 the members 42 and 43 will disengage the pin 44 and return substantially to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings to permit the coin to drop into the receptacle 15. The plate 34 is provided with a stop 45 that cooperates with a corresponding stop (not shown) in the casing 28 to permit the knurled head knob 31 to be turned through 180 only. By such an arrangement, the

main spring 26 is wound a predetermined constant amount for each coin inserted in the device. Whereas, in other prepayment meters there was a likelihood that the coin would be dropped into its receptacle before it had permitted the spring tobe wound the required amount. In our device, when the knob 31 has been turned 180, one of the members 42 and 43' quickly springs from across the opening between the flanges 40 and 41 topermit the coin to be released then and then only.

A spring case 46land a pointer 47 are mounted on a shaft 72 upon which a collar 48 is loosely mounted. A dial 49 is mounted on the collar 48, and the inner end of the spring 26.is also operativelyconnected to the collar. The outer end of the spring 26 is connected to the spring case 46 one portion of which constitutes, a gear wheel 50 that is. adapted to engage a pinion 51 which is mounted on'a rotatable and slidable shaft 52. The shaft 52 is provided with relatively. long bearings 53 where it passes throughthe plate'22, and a clip 54 1s provided for holding the shaft 52 in such position that the pinion 51 normally engages thegear wheel 50. When the clip 54 is removed from the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings,- the shaft 52 may be so moved that the pinion 51 does not engage the gear wheel 50, and the spring 26 may unwind without restriction. The shaft 52 is shifted longitudinally when it is desired to test the coin-controlled device. A gear wheel 55 is also mounted on the shaft 52 and is adapted to engage a pinion 56 that is mounted on a shaft 57 upon which an escapement wheel 58 is also mounted. A double palette 59 and an eccentric strap 61 are mounted on a shaft 60, and the eccentric strap 61 is adapted to surround an eccentric 62 that is mounted on a shaft 63 upon which a worm wheel 64 is also mounted. The worm wheel 64 is adapted to engage a worm screw 65 that is mounted on a shaft 66 upon which a gear wheel 67 is also mounted. The gear wheel 67 is adapted to engage a pinion 68 that is mounted on the main shaft 8 of the meter 3. Thus, when the armature 7 of the meter 3 rotates, the oscillation of the double palette 59 caused by the cooperation of the eccentric 62 and the eccentric strap 61, will cause the spring 26 to be unwound from its outer end in accordance with the speed of the armature 7.

The dial 49 is provided with gear teeth 69 on its outer edge that are adapted to engage an idler gear wheel 70, which, in turn, engages a pinion 71 that is mounted on the main shaft 89. A ratchet wheel 73 is mounted on the shaft 39 and is adapted to beengaged by a spring-pressed pawl 74 to prevent the spring 26 from being unwound from its inner end.

A lever 75 is mounted on the collar 48 and is provided with two spaced-apart arms 76 and 77 that are adapted to engage lever arms 78 and 79, respectively. The lever arm 78 and a lever arm 81 are mounted on a shaft that is supported by brackets 82 on one face of the gear wheel 50. The lever arm 79 is mounted on a shaft 83 upon which a lever arm 84 that extends through. an

' opening 85 in the shaft 72 is also mounted.

The lever arm 78 and 79 extend through an opening in the spring case 46. A pin 86 is loosely disposed in the shaft 72 and is adapted to be pressed outwardly to engage one arm of a spring-restrained pivoted member 87 when the spring 26 is so unwound that the arm 77 of the lever 75 engages the lever arm 79. An annular member 88 loosely surrounds the shaft 72 and constitutes a springrestrained pivoted member having an arm 89 that is operatively connected to a pin 90 which is adapted to extend across the opening 29 in the casing 28 when the lever arm 81 is actuated. The lever arm 81 and, consequently, the arm 89 are actuated only when the spring 26 is wound to such an eX- tent that the arm 77 of the lever 75 engages the lever arm to rock the shaft 80. Since the annular pivoted member 88 is disposed around the shaft 72, the arm 81 will engage ber and are provided with binding screws 97 for attaching the respective conductors of the meter-windings thereto. The movable member 93 is provided with a spring 98 that is adapted to snap the bridging contact member 94 into and out of engagement with the stationary contact members 95 and 96. A pin 99 is mounted on the movable member 93 and is adapted to engage one arm of the spring-restrained pivoted member 8-7 for the purpose of holding the bridging contact member 94 in its closed position until the spring 26 is sufficiently unwound to permit the lever arm 75 to rock the shaft 83.

When a coin that is inserted in the lot 17 becomes wedged between the plates 34 and 38 and the knurled head knob 31 is rotated 180, the dial 49 will be moved a predetermined distance, and the spring 26 will be wound a corresponding amount from its inner end. When the knob 31 is being turned to wind the spring, the mutilated gear wheel 91 engages the mutilated pinion 92, which is now in such position that, the contact members 94, 95 and 96 are disengaged, and causes the movable member 93to be moved to such position that the spring 98 snaps the bridging member 94 into engagement with the stationary contact members 95 and 96. It is held in this position by the engagement of one arm of the pivoted member 87 with the pin 99. When the switch is closed, the armature 7 of the meter 3 rotates to actuate the escapement mechanism 25, which permits the spring 26 to be unwound from its outer end and the pointer 47 to be moved in the same direction that the dial 49 was moved. Thus, when the pointer reaches the position, with respect to the dial, that it originally had, the lever 75 will move the lever arm 79, which, in turn, will cause the lever arm 84 to actuate the pivoted member 87 to release the movable member 93. When the member 93 is released, it will quickly snap into such position that the circuit of the meter windings will be opened. Since the lever arm 84 is so disposed as to operate a pin located in the center of the shaft 72, it is 125,

immaterial what the position of the spring drum 46 is, because the active length of the lever arm of the pivoted member 87 is always the ame.

If suflicient coins are inserted through the 78, the lever arm 81"will engage the pivoted member 88 to cause the pin 91 to close the slot 2 9: When the spring 26 unwinds, the

movement ofthe lever 7 5 causes the lever -arm 7 8 and, consequently, the pin 90, to be soimoved that more coins maybe inserted in- ;,the opening 29 when the spring has been unwound an amount equivalent to the amount thatv it is, Wound for each coin. V Itywill beunderstood that our invention is not limited to the specific structure illustrated-, but-is adaptable to variousmodifi-- cations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the V appended claims.

switch,;la rotatable member, a spring opera 5 her and means for-cooperating with the pin to trip the switch when the spring is un';

wound. a" predetermined amount.

We claim ,asourinvention-t V v V "'1'. A controlling device comprising a tively connected to; the a rotatable member, a pin loosely jmounted' in-the rotatable mem- 2. A controlling dev ce comprising a switch, a spring-actuated rotatable member,

' a pin loosely mounted in the rotatable member and means for cooperating with the pin to "trip the switch underfpredetermined con= ditions.

AIcoin-actuated "device comprising a' casinghaving di'ametral openings therein, a

spring restrained disk pivoted in" one end of 1 thejcasing and having coin-positioning projections in it's face and a peripheral flange" with an opening therein, a second rotatable disk. having a peripheral flange withdi- 1 disk and a pin adapted to cooperate with the resiliently mounted members .to maintain j the opening in the flanged periphery of the spring-restrained disk closediuntil it has.

been turned a predetermined distance. i

' tatable memberand meansmountedon the said rotatable memb'erlfor cooperating with t the pin to trip the switch mined conditions. V

' 4. A@ coin-actuated device. comprising an a' pin adapted to restrain the resiliently mounted members across the opening in the actuating member until it has been rotated a predetermined distance.

5, A controlling 1' device comprising a switch, arotatable member, a spring having one of'its ends connected to the rotatable member, a. pin loosely mounted in the r0- undenpredeter- 6. A controlling device, comprising a switch, a rotatable member, a spring having one of its ends connected to the rotatable vmember, a pin loosely mounted in the r0- tatable member and means mounted on the sald rotatable member for cooperating with the pin to trip the switch when the spring has been unwound a predetermined amount.

7. A controlling device comprising a switch, a rotatable member, a spring having one of its ends connected to the rotatable member, a pin loosely mounted in the rotatable memberv and means mounted on the said rotatable member for cooperating with the pin to trip the switch when thespring has been unwound a predetermined amount, irrespective of the position of the said means.

, switch, a spring-actuated rotatable member,

a pin loosely mounted in the rotatable member and means mounted on the rotatable member for cooperating with the pin to trip the switch under predetermined conditions.

9. A controlling device for a prepayment meter comprising a switch, a coin device, a spring adapted to be wound by the coin device, means for permitting the unwinding of the spring, and means for closing the coin device and for tripping the switch when the I spring has been wound a predetermined wamount and unwound 'a predetermined amount, respectively.

10. 'A controlling device comprising a switch, a spring-actuated rotatable member,

j a pin loosely mounted in the rotatable member and means mounted on the rotatable member for cooperating with the pin to trip 7 the switch under predetermined conditions, ametral. openings therein, J two resiliently mounted members mounted on the second meter comprising a switch, a coin-actuated device, aspring adapted to be wound from one'end by the coin device, means for per- EF- mitting the unwinding of the spring from p its; other end, and means for closing the coinactuating member having anopening' thereinfanjactu ateid member adapted to grip'a coin disposedbetween'it andthe actuating j member, resiliently mountedmembers operatively'connected to the actuated member and actuated device under predetermined conditions and for tripping the switch when the spring has been unwound a predetermined amount.

13. A controlling device for a prepayment meter comprising a switch, a coin device, a

spring adapted to be Wound by the actuation of the coin device, and means for closing the switch when the spring has been unwound a 10 coin device and for tripping the switch when predetermined amount, irrespective of the the spring has been wound and unwound position of the said means.

predetermined amounts, respectively. v In testimony whereof, we have hereunto 14:. In a prepayment meter, the combinasubscribed our names this 29th day of Feb,

tion with a switch, a coin-c0ntro11ed device, 1916.

and an actuating spring, of means for closing the coin-controlled device under prede- WILLIAM M. BRADSHAWV.

termined conditions andfor tripping the WALTER G. MYLIUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

